Risk factors are factors which contribute to the risk of development of a particular disease/disorder. It usually aggravates the pathology of a complex trait disease and increases the chance of an individual to develop the disease. Examples: Obesity, Hypertension, Poly cystic ovary syndrome, Acanthosis nigricans, Dyslipidemia, Gestational Diabetes etc.

    A disease complication is generally a secondary disease, or a negative reaction, which occurs during the course of an illness and it usually aggravate the illness. The major type 2 diabetic complications are: Diabetic retinopathy, Diabetic neuropathies, Diabetic nephropathy, cardiovascular disease, Foot gangrene, Hyperhomocysteinemia, Alzheimer’s disease etc.